Two Bay Head businesses celebrate new life after Sandy

Jul. 1, 2013

BAY HEAD — Susan Roche was surrounded by family and friends as she celebrated the re-opening of her newly expanded business Saturday in the borough.

After eight months of difficult decisions and constant repairs brought on by superstorm Sandy, Roche wanted to throw the community a “We survived celebration” as part of her open house at Life’s Miracles, the family portrait studio, gift shop and candy store on Bridge Avenue.

“Now I can focus on work, not just the house. It means I have hope,” she said. “I had two choices: Either you don’t do this or you do. I had lots of support in the community to come back and that’s great. It kind of feels like my life comes together in one spot.”

Roche has spent the last eight months struggling to repair her Point Pleasant home, but finally decided it was time to focus her mind again on her work. Her former studio was on Mount Street and took in four and a half feet of water during Sandy compared to just four inches in her home, though damage was severe in both cases.

Deanna Hoffman of Brick came to see the store after meeting Roche as the photographer for her daughter’s wedding and was impressed.

“It’s more flowing than the other place. It has a lot more in it and everything is just beautiful,” she said after buying a mermaid doll.

Re-opening celebrations were also under way Saturday a little farther south on Route 35 at Harbour Yacht Club and Marina in Normandy Beach.

“It’s like a slice of heaven,” said Hackensack resident Darlene Bitetto, who has met friends and seen her family grow at the marina.

The marina that Jimmy and Annie Ryan own and started 33 years ago has hammered by the superstorm, which scattered some of its 130 boats and tossed others into a heaping pile.

“It totally consumed the last eight months, and our whole focus has been on re-opening and getting our marina family back here with us,” said Annie Ryan, 47.